The announcement of India's T20 World Cup team has sparked numerous debates. While the headlines are dominated by Shubman Gill's omission, fans are equally bewildered by Jitesh Sharma's exclusion from the team. The social media sphere is rife with questions about why a player who had carved a niche in India's T20 squad was axed at the last minute. People are wondering, what was Jitesh Sharma's mistake?
The Selectors' Clarification
The selection committee was quick to clarify their stance. During a press conference in Mumbai, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized that Jitesh's exclusion was not due to a lapse in ability but was entirely a decision based on team combination.
He stated, 'When you consider team composition, if your wicketkeeper is batting up the order, the thought process was to have an additional backup wicketkeeper in case of any issues. Jitesh was in the team earlier and has done nothing notably wrong.'
Irfan Pathan's Surprise
Irfan Pathan expressed that Jitesh Sharma must be pondering why he was left out of the World Cup squad. Irfan also advised Suryakumar Yadav to regain his form at all costs before heading to the World Cup.
Read More: Waiting for 2 Years, Surprise Chance in World Cup, Discover Ishan Kishan's Comeback Story
Jitesh's Consistent Proving Ground
Jitesh has displayed exceptional performances for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL, playing a crucial role in their title aspirations. His ability to finish matches under pressure and his agility behind the stumps have earned him a distinct reputation. Many believed that these IPL performances cemented his return to India's T20 team.
Jitesh's Recent Performances
Looking at Jitesh Sharma’s T20 career, he has played a total of 16 matches with a strike rate exceeding 150. He had recently been part of the series against South Africa. In the series, he scored an unbeaten 10 in the first match, 27 in the second, did not bat in the third, the fourth match was abandoned, and didn't face a ball in the last match. Hence, Jitesh didn't do anything particularly wrong. Behind the stumps, he was also impressive. Yet, he couldn't secure a place in the team.
Read More: 'They're Good Players, but Team Composition is Crucial...', Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar on Shubman Gill's Exclusion
Surprise Inclusions in the Team
Two players have been surprisingly included in the World Cup squad. Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan have been given opportunities. Kishan had been out of Team India for nearly 2 years, and although Rinku Singh was part of the team, he wasn’t getting playing opportunities. When he was dropped from the South Africa series, it seemed unlikely he would make the World Cup squad. Nevertheless, he has made a comeback. Rinku has proven himself as a finisher, while Ishan has displayed remarkable performances in domestic matches.
India's 15-Member Squad for the T20 World Cup:
Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper).
The T20 World Cup is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The tournament is scheduled to commence on February 7 and culminate with the finals on March 20. The defending champions, India, are placed in Group A, featuring teams from the United States, Namibia, the Netherlands, and Pakistan.
